Railroad grade crossing



June 2, H936. J. F. ROSE RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING Filed NOV. 22, 1954 Inventor chm es F Ease Patented June 2, 1936 "NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railroad grade crossings and consists briefly in the provision of a crossing constructed from old, salvaged rails and planks arranged substantially in alternate relation.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a grade crossing characterized by simplicity of construction, economy in amounts of materials used; and upkeep; long life at minimum expense; and facility of removal and replacement.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages will be thus understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the crossing, and

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, it will be seen that the rails of a track are indicated by the reference numeral 5 while the ties are indicated by the reference numerals 6. The roadway at opposite sides of the track is indicated by the reference numeral 1. The grade crossing is indicated by the reference numeral 8.

In accordance with the present invention, the grade crossing is constructed from a plurality of inverted old or salvaged rails 9 and boards or planks I arranged in alternation. The planks H], as best shown in Fig. 2, are substantially T-shaped in cross section thus providing ribs Ill that engage the webs of the rails and fit snugly between the base flanges and balls of the rails; with the top faces of the planks I0 and the base flanges 9 presenting a substantially smooth unbroken surface.

Between the endmost planks 10 which latter at their ends are anchored to ties 6 by spikes or the like H, and the rails there are wedged into position salvaged or old rails l2 that are placed in canted position with the base flanges thereof flatly engaging the lateral faces of the endmost planks l0 and the ball of the rails l2 bearing tightly against the inner faces of the webs of the rails 5.

The grade crossing at either side of the track is continued for a slight distance and the extended portions of the grade crossing are similarly constructed of alternately arranged salvaged rails and planks ill to a suitable number.

From the above, it will be apparent that a grade crossing embodying the features of the present invention can be easily put into place or removed in a single day and will require the labor of not more than four men of ordinary skill. Also, where feasible, old crossing planks can be used, and of course to get the best results, the

planks used will be creosoted, the cost of which operation will in no wise be excessive. Also, a crossing so constructed should be of long life since as clearly shown in the drawing, the construction is such that the edges of the planks will be not subject to great wear and will not project as to cause a raveling of the edges of the boards, or the loosening thereof as is common with the railroad grade crossing constructions now generally resorted to.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A railroad grade crossing comprising in combination with a pair of rails between which the crossing is arranged, alternately laid separators and inverted salvaged rails disposed parallel to each other and to the aforementioned pair of rails, said separators being of substantially T-shape formation in cross section to provide lateral ribs fitting snugly between the base flanges and ball heads of the rails and in intimate contact with the webs of the rails and flush with the upper surface of the rails, and means for anchoring each of said separators to the ties.

2. A railroad crossing comprising in combination with a pair of rails between which the crossing is arranged, alternately laid separators and inverted salvaged rails disposed parallel to each other and to the aforementioned pair of rails; said separators being of substantially T-shape formation in cross section to provide lateral ribs fitting snugly between the base flanges and ball heads of the rails and in intimate contact with the webs of the rails, and canted salvaged rails wedged between the endmost separators and the rails of the track with fastening means anchoring the ends of the separators to the rail ties.

3. A railroad grade crossing comprising in combination with a pair of rails between which the crossing is arranged, and supporting ties for the rails and upon which the crossing is supported, alternately arranged separators and inverted salvaged rails disposed parallel to each other and to the aforementioned pair of rails; said separators being of substantially T-shaped formation in cross section to provide lateral ribs fitting snugly between the base flanges and ball heads of the respective inverted salvaged rails with the downwardly facing surfaces of the separators resting directly upon the ties and with the upwardly facing surfaces of the separators lying between and flush with the base flanges of the said inverted salvaged rails to provide with the base flanges a substantially smooth unbroken surface for the grade crossing and means for anchoring the separators in place.

JAMES F. ROSE. 

